Vehicle with depositable ramp for the forming of bridges, particularly floating bridges and ferries

ABSTRACT

Vehicle with depositable ramp for forming floating bridges or ferries having short drive-on ramps at both ends, one of which is coordinated with the end over which the depositable ramp is swung and is the depositable member for the depositable ramp connected in the swing position with the depositable ramp. Furthermore the drive-on ramp that is in the form of a depositable member has a shape that is adapted to the obliqueness of the depositable ramp, and the vehicle body has a deck which extends evenly throughout its entire length, where the drive-on ramp that is not a depositable element is foldable and in the unfolded condition corresponds to the form and size of the drive-on ramp that is the supporting member.

United States Patent [191 Gehlen Sept. 24, 1974 VEHICLE WITH DEPOSITABLE RAMP FOR THE FORMING OF BRIDGES, PARTICULARLY FLOATING BRIDGES AND FERRIES [76] Inventor: Hermann Walter Gehlen,

Pirmasenser Strasse 60, 675 Kaiserslautem/Pflaz, Germany [22] Filed: Mar. 7, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 339,027

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 11, 1972 Germany 2211912 [52] US. Cl. 14/27 [51] Int. Cl E01d l/00 [58] Field of Search 14/1, 27

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,010,128 11/1961 Gillois 14/1 3,021,544 2/1962 Gillois 14/1 Gillois 14/1 Gehlen 14/1 Primary ExaminerNile C. Byers, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT Vehicle with depositable ramp for forming floating bridges or ferries having short driveon ramps at both ends, one of which is coordinated with the end over which the depositable ramp is swung and is the depositable member for the depositable ramp connected in the swing position with the depositable ramp. Furthermore the drive-on ramp that is in the form of a depositable member has a shape that is adapted to the obliqueness of the depositable ramp, and the vehicle body has a deck which extends evenly throughout its entire length, where the drive-on ramp that is not a depositable element is foldable and in the unfolded condition corresponds to the form and size of the drive-on ramp that is the supporting member.

5 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTED 59241974 837, 027

mm u (If 6 VEHICLE WITH DEPOSITABLE RAMP FOR THE FORMING OF BRIDGES, PARTICULARLY FLOATING BRIDGES AND FERRIES The present invention relates to amphibious vehicles for forming bridges. More in particular the invention provides a vehicle for assembling floating bridges and ferries having a depositable ramp that is linked onto an end of the vehicle. This particular vehicle is equipped with short drive-on ramps, of which the drive-on ramp that is associated with the front end over which the depositable ramp is unfolded is constructed as the depositing member for the depositable ramp and is connected in the unfolding position with the depositable ramp. The drive-on ramp forming the depositing member is for this purpose furthermore adapted as to form to the obliqueness of the depositable ramp along the area of supporting engagement, while the otherdriveon ramp can be disposed in a different way and manner.

It is an object of the present invention to further develop the vehicle described above that it is more suitably constructed and thus deployable in more different I .ways. In particular the deploying in connection with other equally constructed vehicles is to be improved and simplified, while this connection is to be possible at the ends as well as also along the longitudinal sides of the individual vehicles.

This problem is essentially solved in accordance with the invention primarily in that the vehicle body is provided in a known manner with a deck that extends over its entire length and that the drive-on ramp linked on at the opposite end which is not in. the formof a depositable member is foldable in three parts and is as to form and magnitude inunfolded condition equal to the drive-on ramp that is constructed as a depositable element.

By means of this construction and shaping of the deck of the vehicle and of the second drive-on ramp it is made possible thatthe bow half and the-stern half of the vehicle are equal as viewedfrom the side. This results in the possibility. in the presence of conventional and known coupling means provided on, all sides, to connect the vehicles with one another-inany desired manner of connection. Thus they may be oriented equally or in opposite directions. This provides advantages in the speed of the assembly of bridges or alsoof their vehicle connections. Above all the arrangement or disposition of the drive means of the individual vehicles that are connected with one another may be varied, depending on the task or problemof the connected vehicles and especially on the prevailing current flow conditions.

Advantageously the vehicle can be further developed in a manner that the total length of theunfoldeddepositable ramp corresponds to the total length of the vehicle with unfolded drive-on ramps aligned in the plane of the deck. Thus it is possible with lateral arrangement of the depositable ramp in a position turned by 180 about its axis on the vehicle, to make with its unfolded drive-on ramps a bridge element-of double width.

Furthermore the drive-on ramp can .in aknown manner be rigidly latched in different positionsto the vehicle body, and-particularly in the position that'is in alignment with the surface plane of the-deck of the vehicle body.

Furthermore the vehicles can in a known manner be provided on the sides with inflatable floating bodies in order to increase the buoyancy in water.

The anchor that has to be provided for every vehicle may suitably be accommodated in the drive-on ramp which is constructed as a depositable member in a recess that is accessible from the side.

If the vehicle is equipped with a second operators cabin that may be optionally employed at the end opposite of the regular operators cabin, that is in the form of a structural part which can be folded or slid in along the lateral area of the vehicle. Preferably the operator's cabin consists of an unfoldable platform with foldable struts and a steering column which accommodates the steering means that in its turn can be folded in the surface plane of the platform.

In the following specification details of an embodiment of the vehicle are described which are schematically illustrated in the drawings by way of examples, while deploying possibilities are explained which are made possible by the vehicle as a result of the design.

FIG. 1 illustrates the vehicle in accordance with the invention schematically in a side view, together with the different ramps in transporting position,

FIG. 2 illustrates the vehicle with unfolded ramps while bridging a trench,

FIG. 3 shows from a) d) in end views different possibilities of lateral coupling of the vehicle with identical vehicles,

FIG. 4 illustrates from a) e) a series of coupling possibilities of identical vehicles at their ends with and without use of the depositable ramp,

FIG. 5 illustrates a further possibility of deployment of the vehicle at a) in a side view and at b) in a plan view with a laterally mounted depositable ramp, and

FIG. 6 shows from a) 0) details of the additional optionally usable operators stand.

As is known and conventional, the vehiclehas a vehi- I cle body 1 in the form of a pontoon that is capable of floating. The deck 2 of this vehicle body 1 extends evenly and horizontally from the forward end 2', Le, the bow, to the rearward end 2", the stern, of the vehicle 1. Finally, the vehicle is equipped with a drive-on ramp 3 which is in the form of a rest-on or supporting element for the depositable ramp 4 that consists of two equal halves 4'. The two ramp halves 4' extend intoend areas 5, 6 in a manner that the two can be optionally connected with the drive-on ramp 3 that serves as the rest-on element.

Corresponding to the drive-on ramp '3 linked to the end, portion 2', there is also a drive-on ramp 7 linked to the opposite end 2" which in accordance with the invention is, on the one hand, divided into three parts 8,9 and 10, and on the other hand it corresponds in its unfolded condition as to shape and size exactly to the drive-on ramp 3.

It is necessary to stipulate that as seen from about the rearward point of contact of the land drive wheels with the ground, no parts may extend into an angular area of about 30. Therefore the point of linkage of the drive-on ramp 7 has to be placed as high as possible. The plane or flat construction of the deck 2.extending throughout the length of the vehicle is also known with other vehicles to be sure, but there the effect of this shape was of no consequence as far as the arrangement and construction of a ramp corresponding to the driveon ramp 7 was concerned. Since the drive-on ramp 7 divided in three parts corresponds as to shape in unfolded condition to the drive-on ramp 3, the vehicle with its ramp equipment is symmetrical as to its central transverse plane which, in the presence of conventional and known coupling means arranged on all sides, pro vides the possibility ofjoining the vehicles in any desirable manner of connection.

FIG. 2 illustrates the deployment possibility of a single vehicle with ramp 4 unfolded by means of drive-on ramp 3 and pivot axis 11 and of the further drive-on ramp 7 unfolded about the pivot axis 12. In FIG. 3 the separate figures a) d) reflect different coupling possibilities. FIG. 3a illustrates an individual vehicle in an end view of its end 2" with the water drive means 13 as well as two elastic inflatable auxiliary floating bodies 14, 15 which are laterally mounted in a known manner. FIG. 3b shows two such vehicles with their vehicle bodies l coupled together at one longitudinal side in a manner that the two water drive means are located at the same end of the vehicle combination. ln accordance with FlG. 3c, there are likewise two vehicles coupled together at the longitudinal sides of the vehicle bodies 1, but in a manner that on one vehicle the water drive means 13 and on the other vehicle the pilot cabin 16 is located at one end of the vehicle. A further connecting possibility for three vehicles is illustrated in FIG. 3d.

Besides the numerous possibilities of coupling the longitudinal sides, there are also numerous possibilities of coupling the ends as shown in FlGS. a) e) of FIG. 4. FIG. 4a shows a single vehicle. FIG. 4b shows two vehicles coupled together at their ends by means of a drive-on ramp 7 on the one hand, and on the other hand with the drive-on ramp 3 with the deposable ramp 4 omitted. The water drive means 13 of the two vehicle bodies 1 thus are aligned. Furthermore, there are two coupling possibilities in accordance with FIGS. 40 and 4d in accordance with which either ramps 7 or ramps 3 are coupled together with the resulting and illustrated consequences for the arrangement of the water drive means 13. In accordance with e) two vehicle bodies 1 are connected with one another with a deposable ramp 4 between them. Of course, a large number of other coupling possibilities exist, especially for a plurality of vehicles.

The described construction of the ramps 3 and 7 on the one hand, and of ramp 4 on the other hand, makes possible the widening of the track made available by the vehicle, respectively of the bridging surface, to twice the area as shown in FIG. 5, where FIG. a is a side view and FIG. 5b a plan view of the coupling arrangement. Ramp 4 has been turned with its two unfolded equal halves 4' through an angle of 180 about its longitudinal axis and, by means of suitable connecting means known per se and therefore not illustrated, connected laterally with the vehicle body 1 and the two drive-on ramps 3 and 7.

Finally, sub FlGS. a) c) of FIG. 6 show details of the construction of an additional operators stand 18 that may be provided in the area disposed opposite the pilot cabin 15 at the end 2' of the vehicle body 1. This operators stand 18 consists essentially of a service platform '19 thatcan be pivotally swung about a pivot 20 out of a lateral'recess 21 in the vehicle body 1 to horizontal position and supported in that position by a strut having arms 23 and 24 that is foldable about a central point 22. A steering column 25 can be pivotally moved about a pivot 26 to the surface of the platform 19.

Finally, the drive-on ramp 3 may have a lateral recess '27 for receiving the anchor of the vehicle which is light and can be readily stored and reached.

Having now described my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, what I desire to protect by letters patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. Vehicle for forming floating bridges and ferries, said vehicle comprising a floating body presenting a horizontal deck, a foldable depositable ramp having oblique end surfaces inclined toward one another, and short drive-on ramps one at each end of said vehicle, one said drive-on ramp being associated with the end of the vehicle over which said depositable ramp can be swung and being a supporting and depositing element for the depositable ramp, and being connected with the depositable ramp while in folding or unfolding condition, said drive-on ramp which constitutes the depositing element having a shape that is adapted to the obliqueness of an end of the depositable ramp, said deck being even throughout its length, while the driveon ramp which is not a depositing element is foldable into three parts and is in unfolded condition substantially equal as to form and magnitude to the drive-on ramp that is constructed as the depositing element.

2. Vehicle in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the total length of the unfolded depositable ramp corresponds to the total length of the vehicle body with unfolded drive-on ramps aligned with the surface plane of the deck.

3. Vehicle in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that means are provided for rigidly latching the ramps in different positions, particularly in the aligned position with the surface of the deck.

4. Vehicle in accordance with claim 3 where said drive-on ramp constructed as a depositing element is provided with a lateral recess adapted to accommodate the anchor of said vehicle.

5. Vehicle in accordance with claim 1, comprising a pilot cabin at one end and an optionally mountable operators stand at the opposite end, said vehicle having a recess at said opposite end receiving said stand in folded condition and said stand comprising a platform provided with foldable arms and a steering column foldable into said platform. 

1. Vehicle for forming floating bridges and ferries, said vehicle comprising a floating boDy presenting a horizontal deck, a foldable depositable ramp having oblique end surfaces inclined toward one another, and short drive-on ramps one at each end of said vehicle, one said drive-on ramp being associated with the end of the vehicle over which said depositable ramp can be swung and being a supporting and depositing element for the depositable ramp, and being connected with the depositable ramp while in folding or unfolding condition, said drive-on ramp which constitutes the depositing element having a shape that is adapted to the obliqueness of an end of the depositable ramp, said deck being even throughout its length, while the drive-on ramp which is not a depositing element is foldable into three parts and is in unfolded condition substantially equal as to form and magnitude to the drive-on ramp that is constructed as the depositing element.
 2. Vehicle in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the total length of the unfolded depositable ramp corresponds to the total length of the vehicle body with unfolded drive-on ramps aligned with the surface plane of the deck.
 3. Vehicle in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that means are provided for rigidly latching the ramps in different positions, particularly in the aligned position with the surface of the deck.
 4. Vehicle in accordance with claim 3 where said drive-on ramp constructed as a depositing element is provided with a lateral recess adapted to accommodate the anchor of said vehicle.
 5. Vehicle in accordance with claim 1, comprising a pilot cabin at one end and an optionally mountable operator''s stand at the opposite end, said vehicle having a recess at said opposite end receiving said stand in folded condition and said stand comprising a platform provided with foldable arms and a steering column foldable into said platform. 